Vise stand



April 1953 c. E. WRIGHT ETAL 2,831,583

VISE STAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Filed June 30. 1954 INVENTOR. c4 YDE E.WEIGHT HERMAN WEIBEL BY a 0 W THE/E ATTOENE) April 22, 1 c. E. WRIGHT ETAL 2,831,583

VISE STAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1954 r NHL el v Vwm 0 NR 0 CHApril 1953 c. E. WRIGHT ETAL 2,831,583

VISE STAND Filed June so, 1954 s Sheets-Sbqet s INVEN TOR. c1.y0e 5.WE/GHI HERMAN LIVE/BEL BY/QQM THE/F A TTOENEY VISE STAND ApplicationJune 30, 1954, Serial No. 440,332 8 Claims. (Cl. 211-149) This inventionrelates to stands or benches for use by mechanics and more particularlyto a stand of this type in which improved means in the form of a tray isprovided for bracing the legs of the stand when it is in use.

Benches or stands utilized by mechanics, such as plumbers, gas and steamfitters, and more particularly stands of this type which are providedwith a vise for securing pipes in position to be threaded, must besufiiciently rigid to maintain the legs in an extended position whenhigh forces are applied to the stand. To enable the stand to be easilytransported, however, it is desirable to provide a bracing means whichis comparatively light in weight and which may be folded to permit thelower end portions of the legs of the stand to be moved inwardly intoengagement with each other.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a bench or stand ofthis type which may be constructed in a simple and economical manner andin which improved means is provided for rigidly bracing the legs of thestand while it is in use which bracing means is so constructed that itserves as a tray for tools. In the improved structure, a central plateand three corner plates are provided in which the plates are arrangedto'rigidly brace each leg when the legs are in their extended position.The corner plates are similar in shape to each other and some of themmay therefore be accurately stamped or otherwise formed in the same die.To provide bracing means which is comparatively light in weight, each ofthe corner plates and the central plate may be, and preferably, is,formed of sheet metal having reinforcing peripheral ribs and is'providedwith a plurality of apertures in the mid-portion. The apertures lightenthe structure and also permit escape of foreign particles therethrough.The bracing means provides a convenient support for tools which may belaid upon the plates which thus forms a suitable tray.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stand orbench for mechanics in which improved means in the form of a tray isprovided to maintain the legs of the stand in an extended position.

Another object of the invention is to provide bracing means in the formof a tray for the legs of a stand including a plurality of platespivotally secured to each other in which some of the plates are similarto each other and may be readily stamped or formed in the same die andwherein the tray and legs may be folded up for carrying purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved stand foruse by mechanics including an improved bracing means for the legs whenthe stand is in use in which the bracing means consists of asubstantially equilaterally-shaped center plate and a corner platepivotally secured to each side of the center plate, the outer end ofeach of which corner plates is pivotally secured to a leg of the standand the parts of the bracing'means being arranged in such a manner thatany tendency of any one v of the legs to collapse is resisted by thecenter plate and the corner plates.

d States Patent 'ice The invention will be better understood byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the stand in which the legs andbracing means are in their extended position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the bracing means in its extendedposition, the legs being shown in section with a portion of two of thelegs extending beyond the sectional line; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views taken on a plane passing throughthe line 33 and 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrowsand showing the position of two of the corner plates .and the centralplate when the legs are in their folded position. v

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modification of the invention;and I Fig. 6 is a side elevational view thereof.

As illustrated in the drawings, the stand comprises an upper head 1which may be of any desired shape for'use by mechanics, steam fitters orplumbers. As shown, it may provide a support for a vise 2 which issecured to the front end of the head and in which are arranged jaws 3for engaging a pipe to be threaded, the opposite end of which carries apipe support 4 upon which a pipe is adapted to rest during a threadingoperation. A portion of the head may also be formed to provide bendinggrooves 5'. Also arranged in the head are a plurality of openings 6 forholding various tools or for receiving the ends of pipes which are to bebent. The head is also provided with a peripheral flange 7 which extendsabove the face portion of the head and with a plurality of sockets 8 inwhich the upper ends of legs 9, 10 and 11 are pivotally mounted bysuitable means, such as pins 12. The sockets provide brackets havingoppositely extending sides and the legs may be pivotally mounted on pinsextending through the brackets inwardly of their outer edges to permitthe legs to swing from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the foldedposition shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Improved means are provided for maintaining the legs of the stand orbench in an extended position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 which bracingmeans may be moved to a folded position to permit the lower ends of thelegs to be moved into engagement with each other. The improved bracingmeans constitute a feature of the present invention and includes threecorner plates 13, 14 and 15 and a central plate 16. The corner platesare similar to each other and each is substantially in the form of anisoceles triangle. The apex portion of one of the corner plates issecured to leg 9, the apex portion of thesecond corner plate is securedto leg 10, and the apex portion of the third corner plate is secured toleg .11. The central plate 16 is substantially in the form of anequilateral triangle and arranged along each side of the central plateis one of the corner plates which is pivotally secured thereto, therebyforming a triangularly shaped bracing member. v I

Each of the corner plates is so constructedthat' com} paratively highstrength and rigidity is provided 'without unduly increasing thetweight.For this purpose, the cor ner plates are formed of sheet metal and themetal at the sides of each corner plate is turned upwardly and inwardlyto form reinforcing tubular beads 17 and 18 as illustrated in Figs. 2and 3 and bent upwardly along the sides and base of each corner plateare arcuate-shaped ribs as indicated by the numerals 19, 20 and 21. Themetal is sufiiciently rigid that the reinforcing tubular beads 17 and 18are maintained in their upwardly and inwardly turned position. Howeverin additionthey may be welded to the outer portions of ribs 19 and .20over the entire length of the tubes or at spaced portions thereof ifdesired. i For securing the corner plates to the legs, the upwardlyextendingribs 19 and 20 terminate a short distance from the outer end ofeach corner plate and the tubular beads 17 and 18 terminate inangle-shaped portions 22 and 23 to provide a rectangularly shapedportion 24 to which a bracket 25issecured.

Each bracket 25 may be of any suitable form which will permit foldingmovement of the bracing means and the inward movement of the legs. Asshown, each cornprises' an arcuate-shapedportion which is secured bysuitable means, such as welding, to the end portions of reinforcingtubular beads 17 and'18 and is provided with outwardly extending arms 26and 27 which be pivotally connected to the legs in any suitable manner.The arms 26 and 27 connected to-corner plates 13 and 14 and each of thelegs 9 and respectively; are provided with aligned openings throughwhich a pin' or bolt 28 extends which is secured in place by' headingthe same over or by removable means, suchas a cotter pin. Therectangularlyshaped portion extending from the apex portion of cornerpiece is secured to leg 11 in a somewhat similar manner. to the viseand'a collar 29 is arranged upon leg 11 through which a set screw 29'extends which engages the leg 11 to hold the collar in position. Thecollar is provided with an inwardly extending boss 30 provided with anopening which is aligned with the openings in the arms 26 and 27 and thepin or bolt 28 extends through the aligned openings in the arms 26 and27 and in the boss 30.

As previuosly stated, the center plate 16, which is also formed of sheetmetal, is substantially in the form of an equilateral triangle and isprovided with upwardly extending ribs 32 of arcuate cross sectiondisposed adjacent each side of the plate and with two outwardlyextending portions 33 and 34, one of which is arranged between sidereinforcing tubular beads 17 of corner plates 13- and 15 and the otherbetween side reinforcing tubular beads 17 and 18 of corner plates 14 and15. The outwardly extending portions of the central plate are formed byturning the metal upwardly and inwardly to provide tubes, which, whenthe support is extended form a continuation of the reinforcing tubularbeads 17 on corner plates 13 and 15 and reinforcing tube 34 forming acontinuation of the reinforcing tubular beads 17 and 18 on corner plates14 and 15. The central plate is also provided at each side with acentral portion 35, each of which is provided with an upwardly extendingarcuate-shaped i.

bead 36 and each of the central portions on the center plate mates witha similar portion 37 provided with an upwardly extending arcuate-shapedhead 38 extending inwardly from the central portion of the base of eachcorner plate.

Each of the corner plates may be hingedly secured to one side of thecentral plate by any suitable means which will permit the plates to befolded upwardly when upward pressure is applied to the bracing means butwhich will resist-downward pressure of the bracing means. -As

shown, each side of the central plate is provided with spacedcylindrical knuckles 39 and 40 which may be formed by bending tabsextending from the centralplate on each side of its central portiondownwardly and inwardly into the form of tubes and welding the inneredges of the tubes to the lower side of the central plate and ma likemanner, a pair of spaced knuckles 41 and 42 are provided on each cornerplate which may be formed by bendinginwardly extending tabs of metaldownwardly and outwardly and then welding the outer edge of the tubes tothe lower surface of each corner plate. Knuckles 41 and 42 on eachcorner plate are arranged outwardly of and in alignment with knuckles 39and on the adjacent side of the center plate and pivot means, such as abolt 43, is passed through one pair of knuckles and below the matingplane of projections 35 and 37 on the center and corner plates, and thenthrough the other pair of knuckles.

It will be noted. that the portion 35 and the arcuateshaped bead 36 onthe center plate engage flush with the It will be noted that leg 11 isarranged oppositely Qli portion 37 and bead 38 on each corner plate andthat the connecting arms 26 and 27 extend upwardly from each cornerplate. It is therefore impossible for the plate to be folded downwardly.In the construction shown, it will also be apparent that the pressure oneach leg will be resisted by the center plate and by each of the cornerplates. When pressure is applied upwardly on the center plate, however,it may be moved upwardly to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, movinglegs 9, 10 and 11 inwardly and as the legs are moved inwardly towardeach other, the center plate and each of the corner plates assume theposition shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The apertures 62 in the plates enable the plates to be kept clean andalso lighten the structure. It will also be noted that when the platesare assembled, the upwardly and inwardly extending reinforcing tubes 17,18, 33 and 34 provide a peripheral rim around the entire assembly whichnot only serves to reinforce the plates but also provides means forretaining tools placed on the tray which is thus formed.

It will be apparent that because two of the connections to the legs arefixed and the other movable that this adjustment enables the tray to beleveled in spite of tolerances in manufacture. In their spread position,the tray holds the legs against further spreading, therefore confiningthe strain on the pivot points 12 for the legs on the stand to thatpoint preventing undue outward strain on the legs from acting as a leverand breaking the boss 8.

It will be noted that a tray as provided in Fig. 2 lends itself toattachment and holding of three legged stands where one of the legs isspaced a greater distance from the other two legs than they are spacedfrom each other.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there has been illustrated a tray where the legs arespaced equi-distant from each other. In this instance only two dies needbe used, one to form the center portion and the other to form the threeouter parts. The corner plates are illustrated at 13', 14 and 15.Inasmuch as they are all the same it need only be pointed out that theyare provided with the tubular beads 17 which define the edges and theribs 19 which add strength. Each plate has arms 26 and 27 extending fromits apex which are hingedly secured to the leg by a pin 28.

The center plate 16 is an equilateral triangle provided with the centralrib 32 which is triangular in form. The edges of the center plate areprovided with hinge eyes 40 which extend opposite hinge eyes 41 on thecorner plates and in which the pintle pins 43 are inserted, and whichhingedly secure the center plate and corner plates together.

The corner plates and center plate are each provided with the upwardly.extending ribs 38 and 36 which provide abutting surfaces that keep theplates from collapsing in a downward direction and also provide rigidityfor the hinge structure since they abut each other in their extendedposition.

Although the adjustable hinge point is not shown in these figures it iscontemplated that one may be used as shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

It therefor be seen that we have provided a tool supporting tray, whichin combination with the legs of a vise stand or the like provides arigid lock for holding the legs in extending position, provides asupport for tools when the bench is in use and folds up between the legswhen they are moved inwardly for storage or transportation. Thestructure is light but due to its construction very strong.

Having thus described our invention we are aware that numerous andextensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A work bench provided with a head and threelegs, the upper portion.of said legs being pivotally connected to said head, and said legs beingmovable from an extended position in which they support said head to afolded position in which the lower portion of the legs extend towardeach other, and means for bracing said legs, said means including acentral plate having three sides and a corner plate pivotally secured toeach side of the central plate, each of said corner plates beingsubstantially in the form of an isosceles triangle with its base portionsecured to the central plate along which it is arranged and its apexportion extending outwardly adjacent one of the legs to thereby providea substantially triangular bracing means, each of said corner plateshaving an upwardly extending rim, and means pivotally securing the apexportion of each of said corner plates to the leg adjacent thereto.

2. A work bench provided with a head and first, second and third legs,the upper portions of which are pivotally connected at spaced points tosaid head and which are movable from an extended position in which theysupport said head to a folded position in which the lower portions ofthe legs extend toward each other, and means connected to said legs andmovable outward thereby to brace said legs in their extended position,said means including a central plate having three sides of substantiallythe same length, a corner plate arranged along each side of the centralplate, each of said corner plates being substantially in the form of anisosceles triangle, the central portion of the base of which engages thecentral portion of the side of the central plate along which it isarranged, and each side of the central plate being provided with a pairof downwardly extending knuckles arranged on each side of its centralportion and each of the corner plates having downwardly extendingknuckles arranged on each side of its central portion and in alignmentwith the downwardly extending knuckles on the side of the central platealong which it is arranged, pivot means extending through the knuckleson each side of the central plate and the knuckles on each corner platewhich pivot means extends below the central engaging portions of thecentral plate and each corner plate to reinforce the engaging portionsof said plates, the apex portion of one of said corner plates beingarranged adjacent to the first leg, the apex portion of the secondcorner plate being arranged adjacent to the second leg, and the apexportion of the third corner plate being arranged adjacent to the thirdleg, and means pivotally connecting the apex portion of each cornerplate to the leg adjacent thereto.

3. A work bench provided with a head and first, secend and third legs,the upper portions of which arepivotally connected at spaced points tosaid head and being movable from an extended position in which theysupport the head of the bench to a folded position in which the lowerportions of the legs extend toward each other, and means connected tosaid legs and movable outward thereby to brace said legs in theirextended position, said means including a central plate having threesides of substantially the same length, a corner plate arranged alongeach side of the central plate, each of said corner plates beingsubstantially in the shape of an isosceles triangle, a central portionof the base of each of which engages the central portion of the side ofthe central plate along which it is arranged, and each side of thecentral plate being provided with spaced downwardly extending knucklesarranged on each side of its central portion and each of the cornerplates having downwardly extending knuckles arranged on opposite sidesof its base portion which are in alignment with the downwardly extendingknuckles on the central plate, pivot means extending through the alignedknuckles and below the central portions of the central plate and eachcorner plate to reinforce the central portions of the central plate andeach corner plate, the apex portion of one of said corner plates beingarranged adjacent to the first leg, the apex portion of the secondcorner plate being arranged adjacent to the second leg, and the apexportion of the third corner plate being arranged adjacent to the thirdleg, means connected to and extending upwardly at an angle from the apexportion of each of the corner plates, and means pivotally connecting theupwardly extending means to the leg adjacent thereto.

4. A brace for the legs of a work bench, said brace comprising asubstantially triangular center plate and three corner plates eachhaving a base pivotally connected to a respective side of the centerplate, said center plate at each side presenting an upstanding rib anddownturned knuckles on opposite sides of said upstanding rib, each ofsaid corner plates at its base, presenting an upstanding rib alignedwith the upstanding rib on the adjacent side of the center plate to abutagainst said last-mentioned rib when the corner plate is positionedlevel with the center plate and extending outward therefrom, each ofsaid corner plates at its base presenting downturned knuckles onopposite sides of its upstanding rib, the knuckles on the base of eachcorner plate being in endwise alignment with the knuckles on theadjacent side of the center plate, and a hinge pin extending through theknuckles on the base of each corner plate and the knuckles on theadjacent side of the center plate and beneath the upstanding ribs on thebase of each corner plate and the adjacent side of the center plate.

5. The brace of claim 4, wherein each corner plate has an upstanding rimwhich extends along each of its side edges away from its base, saidcenter plate has a first short marginal edge disposed between theadjacent side edges of a pair of the corner plates and a second marginaledge disposed between the remaining side edge of one of thecorner-plates of said pair and the adjacent side edge of the remainingcorner plate, and said center plate at each of said short marginal edgeshas an upstanding rim which forms a continuation of the rims on theadjacent side edges of the corner plates.

6. A work bench comprising a bench head and three legs pivotally securedto said head and adapted to be folded together and to be spread apart toextended positions, for supporting the head, and means to brace saidlegs in their extended positions against inward and outward movement andto provide a support for tools comprising a substantially triangularcenter plate having hinge eyes along each of its edges, threesubstantially triangular leg plates hingedly secured at their inneredges to the respective edges of the center plate and hingedly securedat their outer ends to the respective legs, said leg plates at theirinner edges having hinge eyes aligned with the hinge eyes on theadjacent edges of the center plate, pintles extending through thealigned hinge eyes to pivotally connect the leg plates to the centerplate, each of said leg plates having a tubular reinforcement along itsfree edges away from its inner edge, the tubular reinforcernents on theadjacent free edges of a pair of ad jacent leg plates being positionedto abut each other end- Wise at the inner edges of the leg plates whensaid leg plates are level with the center plate to limit the upwardhinging movement of said leg plates, at least one of the hingeconnections between a leg plate and the corresponding leg beingadjustable longitudinally of the leg.

7. A work bench comprising a bench head and three legs pivotally securedto said head and adapted to be folded together and to be spread apart toextended positions for supporting the head, and means to brace said legsin their extended positions against inward and outward movement and toprovide a support for tools comprising a substantially triangular centerplate having hinge eyes along each of its edges, three substantiallytriangular leg plates hingedly secured at their inner edges to therespective edges of the center plate and hingedly secured at their outerends to the respective legs, said leg plates at their inner edges havinghinge eyes aligned with the hinge eyes on the adjacent edges or" thecenter plate, pintles extending through the aligned hinge eyes topivotally connect the leg plates to the center plate, each of said legplates having a tubular reinforcement along its free edges away from itsinner edge, the tubular reinforcements on the adjacent free: edges of. apair of adjacent leg plates being positioned toabut each other endwiseat. theinner edges of the. leg plates when said leg plates are levelwith the center plate to limit the upward hinging movement of said legplates, the center plate and each of the leg plates having astrengthening rib extending substantially parallel to each of its edgesand spaced inward therefrom.

8. The work bench of claim .7, wherein the center plate is formed with atransverse rib extending transversely outward from each saidstrengthening rib thereon to the adjacent edge of the center plate, eachleg plate is formed with a transverse rib extending transversely outwardto its inner edge from the strengthening rib which is adjacent saidinner edge, the transverse rib on each leg plate being aligned with thetransverse rib on the adjacent edge of the center plate to abut againstsaid last mentioned rib when the leg plate is levelwith the centerplate, the hinge eyes on each edge of the center plate are formed bydownturned knuckles disposed on opposite sides of the respectivetransverse rib, the hinge eyes on the inner edge of each leg plate areformed by downturned knuckles disposed on opposite sides of therespective transverse rib and in endwise alignment with the downturnedknuckles on the adjacent edge of the center plate, and the respectivepintles extend through the aligned knuckles and beneath the respectiveabutting transverse ribs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,226,724 Torr May 22, 1917 1,812,967 Long July 7, 1931 2,343,924Petersen Mar. 14, 1944 2,357,165 Brady Aug. 29, 1944 2,455,408 DanielsDec. 7, 1948

